Remote control system for toy electric railroads



Feb. 24, 1942,

A. EHRET 'Er L REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR TOY ELECTRIC RAILROADS FiledMarch 16, 1940 INVENTORS A/vmow' [war //."/Y/?)\/ [Ewen A TORNEY trolsystems for toy .nating current wave form;

Patented Feb. 24, 1942 UNITED v STATE REMOTE CONTROL ELECTRIC RHillside, N. J., and Henry J. Ferri,

' Port Richmond, Staten Island, N. Y.,

to The Lionel Corporation, corporation of New York 3 Anthony Ehret,

SYSTEM FOR TOY AILROADS assignors New York, N. Y., a

Application March 16, 1940, Serial No. 324,330

'7 Claims. (C1.

The present invention relates to remote conelectric railroads, and ismore particularly directed toward remote control systems wherein it ispossible to control an uncoupling device carried by thetrain from aremote point without the necessity of any particular track constructionother than that necessary for supplying current to the toy trains.

According to the present invention the toy train, in addition to havingthe usual reversible locomotive and other electrically operatedaccessories, has a relay controlled uncoupling mechanism which does notfunction when the usual alternating current employed for operating thetrain is impressed on the track, but which does function when a subtantial lower direct current voltage is imposed on the circuit. i

In carrying out the present invention in practice the circuit betweenthe transformer and the track is provided with an impulse sendingcurrent controller which operates the propulsion motor reversingmechanism and with means for introducing into the circuit a low directcurrent potential without opening-the propulsion motor circuit. 2

Inasmuch as the uncouplers or similar devices are intended for quickaction rather than for sustained operation over a substantial period oftime, it is possible to use a very small rectifier to provide a directcurrent component. As the duration of the direct current impulse may beshort, full operating alternating current voltage may be quicklyrestored to the circuit so that the lights and propulsion motor maycontinueto function. This sequence of operations maybe carried out by asimple switch. The accompanying drawing shows. for purposes ofillustrating the present invention, one of the many embodiments in whichthe invention may'take form, it being understood that the drawing isillustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same. In thedrawing:

Figure l is a circuit diagram;

Figure 2 illustrates the effect of superposing. the output of a halfwave rectifier on the alter-.

Figure 3 illustrates the R. M. current going to the track;

and I Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 4 lookingin the direction of the arrow. The track rails of a conventional 3-railtoy railroad track layout are indicated at H and I2 Figure 4 is aperspective view of a controller;

ciated reversing switch I reversing switch actuator I8 S. value of theand the third rail at l3. The reference character 14 indicates acollector shoe bearing on the third rail of the track and the referencecharacter 15 represents the running gear of the train. Where all theapparatus on the train is on one vehicle, such as a switchinglocomotive, the usual locomotive collector shoe and trucks where theapparatus is on it will be understood that adtrucks will be differentvehicles ditional current collectors and employed.

The collector shoe l4 and the truck l5 are connected to a propulsionmotor IS with asso- 1, and to an electromagnetically operated Each timethe track is deenergized the coil [9 of the device l8 drops its armature20 below the tooth on the indexing wheel 2|, so that on the next impulsethe armature is lifted and the indexing wheel and reversing switch l1turn one step to open the motor circuit. On the next impulse thereversing switch I1 is moved another step and the circuit. for the motorcompleted with the connections reversed. With such reversing mechanismsit is therefore important that the circuit to the track should not beunintentionally opened. The collector shoe l4 and truck I5 may also beconnected to alamp load or other devices indicated generally at L.

A relay, indicated at 25, is connected between the collectors and hasarmature 26 adapted to close a circuit through the coil 21 of anelectromagnetically operated uncoupling device 1 28. Therelay'25 is onewhich will not respond to the maximum potential which can be deliveredby the transformer to the track, but one which will respond to a smallamount of direct current applied to the track circuit. The relay may beof the type shown in United States'Patent No. 2,155,343. Owing to theinertia of the armature and the lost motion in the relay armature springthe current through the coil 21 may be maintained for a short intervalafter the direct current ceases to flow in the relay coil.

As shown in Figure l the portion of the track supply circuit for thecoupler control may include an upwardly biased spring 29 normallyconnecting the power rail and transformer through a fixed contact 30, alower contact 3| against whichthe spring 29 may be moved, and a halfwave rectifier 32 connected in circuit when the spring is depressed.

The alternating current wave form is indicated at 33, Figure 2, and theresult brought about by interposing the half wave rectifier in thecircuit by the dotted wave form 34. The use of a non- Certain of thestructural features herein shown ed rectifier results in a high average1- are described and claimed in copending applicarect current potentialbut due to cutting off onetion of Joseph L Bonanno Serial No 324,246

cheated by the curve 35 of Figure 3. bodied in many forms andconstructions within Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the structure of a thescope of the claims and we wish it to be controller C suitable for theabove purposes. It understood that the particular form shown is has abody of insulating material which sup-, but one of the many forms.Various modificaports two binding posts 1! and 12 connected to 10 tionsand changes being possible, we do not otherthe transformer and t0 thethird rail as indi- 'Wise limit ourselves in any way with respect cated,The body 10 has a downwardly extendthereto.

ing square post 13 which receives a contact strip What is claimed is:

74 connected with the binding post 12, an insu- 1. In a toy railroad,the combination with lating Washer 15, a contact strip 16 connectedmeans for supplying a two conductor track cirwith the binding post 1i,an insulating washer cuit with alternating current either continuously11, a comparatively stiff contact spring 18, a or with interruptions orwith alternating curconducting strip 19 beari g against the strip Y rentof substantially lower voltage with a super- 18, corresponding with thespring 29 of Figure 1, posed direct current potential without currentinsulating washers 8t, and the binding screw 8!. 20 interruption, of atrain supplied by said track The conducting strip 16 has an arm 82concircuit, the train having a propulsion motor opnected to one side 83of a dry rectifier R preferable by the higher voltage alternatingcurrent, erably of the copper oxide type. The other elea propulsionmotor reverser operable by inter- 19 are in engagement, these partsbeing held in rent but not responsive to the drop in voltage to place bya screw 85 threaded into a boss 86 carthe IOWOl voltage, a relayincapable of opeiatried by the insulating body 19. The strip 15 ing onsaid higher alternating current voltage has an extension 81 whichoverlies the left end but operabl on the reduced voltage with direct or"the comparatively stiff spring 18 and carries current component andremaining closed for a an upper contact 88 normally in engagement shortinterval after restoration of the higher alwith the spring 18. It alsohas a U-shaped externating current voltage, and a relay controlledtension 89 which passes underneath the left end device not responsive tothe reduced voltage of the strap 18 and provides another contact withdirect current component but responsive 90 .below the strap 18. Thecontacts 88 and 90 to the alternating current flowing in said shortcorrespond with contacts 30 and 31 of Figure 1. 35 interval. The leftend of the strap 18is operable by a push 2. A toy railroad such asclaimed in claim 1, button 9|. wherein the current supplying meansincludes a The conductor strap 1'4 at the right of Fig. 4 normally shortcircuited half wave rectifier and has an extension 92 with a contactnormally in a manually operable switch to introduce the recengagementwith the right-hand end of the stiff '40 tifier into circuit.

is operable by a push button lndicated at 94 and manually operableswitch means to introduce When the parts are in the normal position, asthe rectifier into circuit and to restore the highindicated in thedrawing, the circuit is comer potential to the circuit.

pleted from the binding post H through the strip 4. A toy railroad suchas claimed in claim 1.

lfiyextension 81, contact 88, strip '53, upper 0011- wherein said relaycontrolled device is in the tact on the right-hand end of the strip 18to the form of an electromagneti'cally operated uncouextension 92 ofstrap 14. As the strap 19 is in pling device.

93 is reached, this single back and forth movecurrent potential butoperable on a small direct ment therefore operates i9 and 2B twice andcurrent potential and remaining closed for a effectsamotor reversal.short interval after restoration of the higher When the button Q! ispressed down it disconalternating current voltage, a control switchstrip 16 and introduces the rectifier in circuit. 6 contact connected tothe load circuit and the coupler receives two kicks one of which of therectifier-into the circuit to again shunt the generally sufiice to liftthe coupler head. rectifier so that only a short pulsation of directcurrent is interposed, and a relay controlled device not responsive tothe reduced voltage with direct current component but responsive to thealternating current flowing in said short interval.

6. A toy train having electromagnetically operated uncoupling meansresponsive to propulsion current potential for disconnecting thevehicles of the train, a vehicle carried relaycontrolling the circuit ofthe uncoupling means, the relay adapted to be continuously subjected topropulsion current and being incapable of operating on a predeterminedmaximum potential and uniform frequency of such propulsion current butresponsive to a small direct current potential to close the circuit forthe electromagnetically operated uncoupling means, and a relaycontroller including a normally short circuited half waverectifier whichwhen unshunted supplies an alternating current of a substantiallyreduced alternating current voltage and superposed direct current towhich the relay is responsive but below the voltage to which theuncoupling means is responsive, the relay controller including contactsfor again shunting the rectifier so that full propulsion current issupplied the uncoupling means during the interval required for the relayto open the circuit for the uncoupling means, said interval being ofsufficient duration to permit the uncoupling means to operate.

'1. The combination of claim 6, having a second electromagneticallyoperated device responsive to impulses of alternating current voltagesinsufiicient to actuate the relay but not responsive to the drop inpotential when the rectifier is unshunted.

ANTHONY EHRET. HENRY J. FERRI.

